Posts by granary

Warren Wiersbe, in his book, 50 People Every Christian Should Know, tells of an English merchant traveling in Scotland in the seventeenth century who “made this entry in his journal: In St. Andrews I heard a tall, stately man preach, and he showed me the majesty of God. I afterwards heard a little fair man preach, and he showed me the loveliness of Christ.” The first preacher was Robert Blair, the second was Samuel Rutherford. Rutherford ministered in the Scottish village of Anwoth for nine years. “I see exceedingly small fruit of my ministry,” he wrote after two years. “I would be glad of...

Reconciliation means “to be returned to favor.” This is necessary only on our side; God does not need to be reconciled. “All things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor 5:18). In the same way, our message to sinners is on their part alone: “we pray you in Christ’s stead, be reconciled to God” (v. 20). Paul adds the prefix apo to the word in Ephesians 2:16 and Colossians 1:20-21 to mean fully reconciled. In Hebrews 2:17, the word should be translated “propitiation.” This word is the same used for “mercy seat.”...

“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables…but were eyewitnesses of His majesty” (2 Pet 1:16). Amy Orr-Ewing writes: “Sceptics would be surprised by the number of extra-biblical writings which refer to events and places mentioned by the writers of the Bible. These writings come from a variety of perspectives and backgrounds, demonstrating that at least some of the content of the Bible is credible to the sceptic.” For example, concerning the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus, Orr-Ewing states: “Josephus claimed that ‘Pilatus condemned him to the cross’ (Antiquities, XVIII.63-64). The...

“The Lord is near to all who call upon Him” (Ps 145:18). William James Taylor, alias Bill Hennessy, alias Ed Lynch, learned he couldn’t hide from God. At the age of three, at his father’s San Francisco bar he grew to like the taste of liquor by dipping his fingers into the used glasses. By twelve he was a drunken street urchin. After two years in reform school, he lived aimlessly. Gambling, drugs and drink both provided a livelihood and made him a constant fugitive from the law. On the night he arrived in Chicago, he hurried into Pacific Garden Mission to avoid what he thought were...

Without question, fear of rejection is the Number One reason for lack of witnessing. But is it a good reason? We wouldn’t worry what people thought of us if we realized how little they did. And besides, what people think of you won’t matter a snap of the fingers, but what they think of Christ will determine their eternal destiny. In many western countries, the worst we suffer is an unkind word or an angry glance. Many of our brothers and sisters suffer far worse for standing up for Jesus. But we will overcome this fear of rejection if we focus on our Lord who was “despised and rejected of...